You will be absent from your

precinct from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on election day.

You are 75 years of age or

older.

You have a physical disability

which prevents you from voting in person or you are a constant caregiver

of a person with a disability.

You are an election official.

You are observing a religious

holiday which prevents you from voting in person.

You are required to remain

on duty in your precainct for the protection of life, health, or safety

of the public.

Electors who acquire and vote

absentee ballots without meeting these requirements are in violation of

state law.

Secretary Cox noted that there

is also frequently confusion about the difference between an absentee

ballot application and the absentee ballot itself. Candidates, campaigns,

political activists, community groups and others may legally distribute

absentee ballot applications, provided that these forms list the legally

acceptable reasons for voting absentee.

Applications must only be completed

and returned, however, by the voter or by a close family member as defined

permitted by law to collect and mail or deliver completed applications.

Once received by the qualified

voter, the absentee ballot should be voted by that voter, then signed,

sealed and mailed or personally delivered to the county board of registrars

or absentee ballot clerk. For physically disabled voters, mailing or delivery

may be performed by a close relative or by another person residing in

the household. It is a felony violation of state law to possess, handle

or deliver a voted absentee ballot of another if you do not meet these

strict legal requirements.

Those who seek to commit election

fraud by purchasing votes often target absentee balloting as an effective

means to commit this crime.

Secretary Cox noted that it

is a felony to buy OR sell a vote. Felony violations of election law may

be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000 and imprisonment of one to

ten years.

As with every election, Secretary

of State investigators are monitoring election activities in counties

throughout the state. Anyone who believes they have witnessed a violation

of election law should contact the State Elections Division at 404-656-2871.